First of all, Corey stepped up to the plate and decided to bring charges herself — instead of using a grand jury. That took guts.

For those who don't know much about these secretive panels — and I include much of the media in that group — grand juries are often used as a cop-out.

They allow prosecutors to present unbalanced evidence and uncorroborated testimony. Most troubling, they let prosecutors to do all this without full accountability, since the proceedings are secret.

There's a reason for the expression that most grand juries "would indict a ham sandwich if the prosecutors so requested."

Corey showed courage and accountability by making the charge herself.

The other thing Corey has demonstrated is an ability to tamp down emotions — something sorely needed in the controversy that followed Trayvon Martin's death.

As evidence, look at the way Corey and the Sanford Police Department handled protesters who blocked the front door to the department earlier this week.

The hoodie-cloaked protesters were ready to be arrested. And the cops had every right to do so.

But instead of slapping cuffs on the students gathered at their front door, the cops simply used the back door.

Afterward, Corey and the cops spoke with the protesters … and they moved.

Situation solved.

No arrests — which cost taxpayers money. No giving protesters the extra publicity they may have sought. And no further inflaming an already touchy situation.

Instead of making national news, the incident didn't make it higher than paragraph No. 24 in a local story in the Sentinel.

Other politicians around Central Florida — particularly those at Orlando City Hall — should take notes.

Obviously the jury is still out on how Corey handles this case in the long run. But so far, Gov. Rick Scott seems to have recruited a courageous prosecutor more eager in pursuing justice than headlines.

Name Tags

•Speaking of tough women, how about Mayor Teresa Jacobs? Orlando's good ol' boys tried to turn up the heat on her, pressuring her to go ahead and spend money taxpayers don't have on the Citrus Bowl. Instead of caving, Jacobs came back swinging, telling hoteliers and others that, if they were so hell-bent on building the stadium now, they should put up some of their own money — the same way backers of the arena and arts center did. Good for her. Talk is cheap, boys.

•Gubernatorial hugs and slugs. A hug to Rick Scott for beefing up his visits to public schools. For his first few months in office, he acted like he was allergic to them. Now he's getting on the front lines. A slug for the gobs of special-interest money he's sucking up in his political committees — more than $400,000 in a single day last week.from everyone from road-builders to for-profit prison companies. This is the guy who won election after promising to "stand up" to the special interests … apparently with his hand out.

•A Demo-Crist? There's growing buzz that Charlie Crist, the Republican-turned-independent may turn again to become a Democrat — and the party's best shot at taking back the governor's mansion … which says more about the sorry shape of the Democratic Party than anything else.

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK — The Navy on Saturday commissioned the USS John Warner, adding a 12th Virginia-class submarine to the fleet and celebrating the legacy of its namesake, the retired senator who was hailed as a statesman.